title: The association between diet quality, dietary patterns and depression in adults: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent evidence suggests that diet modifies key biological factors associated with the development of depression; however, associations between diet quality and depression are not fully understood. We performed a systematic review to evaluate existing evidence regarding the association between diet quality and depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computer-aided literature search was conducted using Medline, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, January 1965 to October 2011, and a best-evidence analysis performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five studies from nine countries met eligibility criteria. Our best-evidence analyses found limited evidence to support an association between traditional diets (Mediterranean or Norwegian diets) and depression. We also observed a conflicting level of evidence for associations between (i) a traditional Japanese diet and depression, (ii) a "healthy" diet and depression, (iii) a Western diet and depression, and (iv) individuals with depression and the likelihood of eating a less healthy diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first review to synthesize and critically analyze evidence regarding diet quality, dietary patterns and depression. Further studies are urgently required to elucidate whether a true causal association exists.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
authors.forename: Shae E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Quirk
authors.forename: Lana J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Adrienne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Neil
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pasco
authors.forename: Felice N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Jacka
authors.forename: Siobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Housden
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Brennan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans